Tying at least four (potentially five) of Marvel’s ground-breaking Netflix series’ together, including the so-popular- it-nearly- broke-the- site Luke Cage,The Defendersis shaping up to be all that a Marvel fan could hope for. The prospect of the protagonists of three of Netflix’s most admired series’ joining forces to fight crime has many salivating in anticipation. When Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Danny Rand and Matt Murdock share a screen, there are bound to be fireworks. Today, Marvel Entertainment gave us a further taste of what is to come, confirming three additional cast members to add to an already impressive roster.

Officially joining the show are Rosario Dawson as the busiest nurse in New York City Claire Temple, Scott Glenn as blind misanthrope Stick from Daredevil and Rachael Taylor as radio host and krav Maga enthusiast Trish Walker from Jessica Jones.

Charlie Cox will be reprising his role as Devil of Hell’s Kitchen Matt Murdock, with Krysten Ritter also returning as Jessica Jones alongside Mike Colter’s Luke Cage. Finn Jones will be playing Iron Fist’s Danny Rand, with both series set to premier in 2017. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the supporting cast as well, with many fan favorites set to appear including Elden Helson as Foggy Nelson, Simone Missick as Misty Knight, Eka Darville as Malcolm Ducasse, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page and Carrie-Anne Moss as Jeri Hogarth

Although there have been hints at Jon Bernthal’s Punisher putting in an appearance, these remain, for the moment, unconfirmed.

Whilst the actual identity of her character remains a hotly-debated mystery, Academy award nominee and Sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver is confirmed as being the series’ antagonist.

The showrunners for the series will be the very capable Marco ramirez and Doug Petrie, who also helmed Daredevil. The first two episodes are to be directed by Jessica Jones and Dexter director S.J.Clarkson. The directors of the other six episodes of the eight-episode series have yet to be announced. The series will debut in 2017 alongside Iron Fist and The Punisher.

If the quality of Marvel’s previous Netflix series are anything to go by, and judging by the so- far stellar cast, Marvel fans will have much to be thankful for when 2017 rolls around.